CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The ACC Tournament hasn't exactly been what you would call "competitive" for the most part so far, so Clemson's dismantling of Boston College seemed to be a perfectly appropriate ending two the quarterfinal round.

The only way 11th-seeded Boston College was close to third-seeded Clemson was alphabetically, as the Tigers ho-hummed their way through the second half on the way to a 82-48 victory and a date with Duke in the semifinal round.

Continue reading "ACC: Good night and good ... well, nothing else was good" »

Posted by Evan Markfield at 11:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Man, the Bobcats Arena is a ghost town right now. Even the ghosts probably decided, "Well, this game has been over for about the last hour; let's go grab a beer!" Because ghosts love beer. Either that, or I'm delirious after four games, the last of which is dragging on excruciatingly. That's why anyone with any sense has long since bolted (except loyal Clemson fans, who get a pass for sticking around). There are still nine minutes to go somehow, and the Tigers are up 65-42 on Boston College. Unless a brawl breaks out, nothing of interest is going to happen here. Promise.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 11:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Clemson fans are giving themselves a round of applause after executing a back-and-forth "Clemson" ... "Tigers" chat just now. Seriously, that's all there is to say. Clemson is up 58-35, and were it not for the fact that time has gone off the clock, I could swear it was 15 minutes ago. Ooh, hey, the Eagle mascot is doing a sweet Riverdance while the band plays. See? Updates galore over here.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 11:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - If you were expecting that Al Skinner had a great halftime speech planned for Boston College, forget it. The Eagles have picked up right where they left off, giving up the first eight points of the second half to fall behind 50-25. Yuck.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - This game is an absolute rip job right now. Clemson is up 42-25 at the half, and Boston College even scored the last seven points of the half. I realize it's a No. 3 vs. No. 11 matchup seed-wise, but come on. You wonder how BC even got into the quarterfinals (until of course you remember that yesterday all they had to do was beat collapse-arific Maryland to advance).

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Boston College Tyler Roche might want to check his luggage to make sure he brought his brain on this road trip south. For reasons that would surely boggle the mind, Roche decided to wrap up Sam Perry in the air on the way to the basket after Perry picked off a pass. So instead of a layup, or two free throws, or -- worst case -- an and-one, Clemson got the free throws plus the ball (which resulted in Jerai Grant going to the line). Just an example of why BC is down 27-13.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Back to back buckets by Raymond Sykes, including a thunderous jam, have Boston College on its heels a bit. The Clemson defense is pressuring hard and is a big reason for the 14-6 lead. The last two possessions, BC hasn't made the midcourt line, turning it over on a steal and a charge.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 09:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - It's an intense start to the day's final game here. Not necessarily the best shooting display by either side, but lots of scrapping for loose balls, etc. So far, it's working out for Clemson, which has a 10-6 lead over Boston College.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 09:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - It took five minutes for Boston College to look like a team with no chance to win. The Eagles spent the next 35 becoming a team that could.

No. 11-seed BC overcame a double-digit deficit in the second half to pull off a 71-68 upset of sixth-seeded Maryland, which saw its NCAA at-large hopes all but vanish.

Continue reading "ACC: Eagles complete comeback to advance" »

Posted by Evan Markfield at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - After a terrible stretch when nothing went right, Maryland got layups on two straight possessions to take a one-point lead over the Eagles. But then Rakim Sanders answered with a 3-pointer for BC to put his team up 52-50 with 6:42 to go. Every time I say this it doesn't happen, but here goes: this one could come down to the last shot.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 11:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Tyrese Rice has nine points so far this half, but he's not alone in getting things done for Boston College. The Eagles have cut Maryland's lead to one with 13:19 to go, and the Terps can't buy a bucket. As demoralized as BC looked earlier, that's how the Terrapins look now.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - If Boston College is upset at the numbers on the scoreboard at halftime, it should be glad things aren't even worse. The Eagles shot 30percent in the first half and turned the ball over nine times.

Maryland on the other hand shot 52 percent -- and that was after cooling off. Yet somehow, the Eagles only trailed by six, 31-25, at the break. All things considered, the Eagles aren't in nearly as bad shape as they could be.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Maryland started out 9 of first 13 but followed that with 1 of next 7 -- and still had a double-figure lead. That was until Boston College got its act together on offense. Biko Paris nailed a three that cut the lead to six with five minutes to go in the first half and prompted a timeout. BC just got another bucket, and it's 24-20 now.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Maryland hasn't scored in a while, but they still hold an 11-point lead, and James Gist just added to his personal highlight reel with a ridiculous block that presumably went through the chest of someone in the third row, ripping out their still beating heart and knocking it into a box of popcorn. Well, I said "presumably." Either way, it was nasty to quite nasty.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - James Gist has eight points in the last two minutes, and that Maryland lead has grown even more. Now they're up 20-5.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 09:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - It's interesting to watch Maryland's Greivis Vasquez guard Tyrese Rice, Boston College's best (and arguably only, at times) offensive threat. Vasquez is using his size to prevent Rice from getting off shots while staying with him around the perimeter.

And as the Eagles attempt to pass it around to other guys, the Terrapins are jumping out in passing lanes, getting steals and easy buckets -- like James Gist's thunderous dunk a minute ago. Maryland is enjoying a 15-5 lead here at the 14:43 mark thanks to hitting 7 of its first 10 shots.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 09:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - We're ready to go with the final game of the day here at the ACC Tournament, with No. 6-seed Maryland taking on 11th-seeded Boston College. In fact, the ball just went up, and players are already on the floor. Hopefully this last one will be a fun, scrappy one.

Posted by Evan Markfield at 09:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Posting Up will be courtside for Saturday's ACC-Big 12 match-up pitting host Boston College (10-2) vs. No. 3 Kansas (13-0). The contest tips off at Noon (EST).

With our new live-blogging software, the Live Blog experience becomes even more interactive for you the user, so be sure to join us in the 11 a.m. hour when we kick things off with some pre-game Polls and sights and sounds from Conte Forum.

In the meantime, here are Kansas Game Notes.

Here are Boston College Game Notes.

You can also follow along with all the action at CSTV.com's GameTracker.

Posted by David Scott at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- The Friars saved themselves a lot of aggravation by re-awakening in the latter part of regulation and overtime and go on to win, 98-89.

Efejuku led the Friars with 21 points and Xavier had 20. Tyrese Rice led all scorers with 25 points and Boston College got 24 from Raji. Efejuku was named the MVP of the game, joining Jeremy Pargo from Game 1.

Providence College winds up winning the board battle, 31-28.

. . . Tyrelle Blair fouled out with 1:38 left in OT and finished the night with six points and four rebounds in 31 minutes. Teammate Rakim Sanders fouled out with 40.1 seconds left in the OT. He had seven points, four rebounds and two assists and was hampered by his foul trouble form early on (playing just 23 minutes).

. . . Important to remember that PC is without guard Sharaud Curry, who sustained a leg injury in October. When he returns, the Friars become that much more dangerous.

. . . BC continues to press and foul, trailing by nine with 30 seconds left in the game.

. . . Two excellent games in an old-fashioned double-header at the Gahden and we were happy to be able to bring you some of the action and sights and sounds.

. . . We'll work post-game interviews and then go feed our growling stomach on our way to the much-ballyhooed 10:15 ferry. For more highlights and some grade reports from this game and the entire week of college hoops, be sure to check in at Hang Time for another edition of Office Hours on Monday. The Professor expects you there!

Posted by David Scott at 08:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- Providence is rejuvenated in the overtime period as Jeff Zavier hit a three-pointer from the deep corner to give PC an 81-76 lead about a minute into the extra session. Another Efejuku three as the shot clock espired (top of the key) gave the Friars an 87-78 lead with just over 2:00 left in the game.

The Friars now lead 89-78 with 1:57 left and seem to have finally put away a game they should have won 20 minutes ago.

Four Friars are in double figures, led by Efejuku (19), Xavier (18) and Kale and Peterson with 12 each. BC is led by Raji's 24 and Rice with 19.

Posted by David Scott at 08:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- A three-pointer from Efejujku with 22 seconds left tied the score at 76-76.

Al Skinner chose not to call a timeout and Tyrese Rice missed a deep three-pointer that would have won it.

. . . So much for the 8:45 ferry. But overtime suits us just fine.

Posted by David Scott at 08:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- A three-pointer from Friar Jeff Xavier with 1:04 left has brought PC within three at 73-70.

Providence missed four straight free throws under the 2:00 mark that would have tied the game (Peterson and Efejuku, two each).

. . . The game's refs have been Mike Kitts, Bryan Kersey and Earl Walton. They have blown a combined 41 whistles.

Posted by David Scott at 08:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- Boston College tied the game on two Spears free throws with 2:50 left in the game and then took the lead, 72-70, on two Rice free throws. An Efejuku turnover on the next Friar possession led to a Rice lay-up and an improbable four-point lead for the Eagles with 2:07 left in the game.

. . . Brian McKenzie fouled out for the Friars with 2:58 left in the game. He had nine points, two rebounds and an assist.

Posted by David Scott at 08:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- Providence had stemmed the tide a bit but a fast-break three-pointer from Tyrese Rice cut the lead to 70-68 with 3:24 left in the game.

The Eagles are now out-rebounding the Friars, 24-22, meaning they hold a 17-8 edge on the boards in the second half.

Raji has 24 points for BC to account for all but five of the Eagles' bench points.

. . . Sanders picked up his fourth foul with 6:22 left and was replaced by Biko Paris.

. . . PC's Geoff McDermott fouled out with 4:53 left in the game, finishing with eight points, 10 assists and three rebounds in 31 minutes. It was one shy of McDermott's career-high in assists.

Posted by David Scott at 07:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- Ever since the Providence College band started with its "Let's Go Hokies" chant, Boston College has been on a ridiculous 17-1 run. Not sure if the two occurrences are related, but it sure has shut up the band and energized the Eagles. PC now leads 63-57 with 7:15 left in the game.

. . . Attendance for the doubleheader was 18,007, despite the fact that many upper bowl seats are empty and have been all day.

Posted by David Scott at 07:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- Boston College is on a 13-0 run and has cut the Providence lead to 62-51 with 9:42 left in the game. The rebounding edge for PC is now just two at 19-17.

. . . This spirited comeback could be the death knell for my 8:45 ferry. Haters.

Posted by David Scott at 07:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- This one was starting to look like the Celtics-Knickk blowout of earlier this week on this same floor. The difference is the BC kids won't quit the way the Knicks' punks did. PC leads, 62-46, with 11:44 left. Kale leads PC with 12 points and Raji has 18 for BC.

BC has gone on a bit of a run to cut the lead down -- and they are rebounding with more urgency -- but the Friars are still in comfortable control.

. . . A chant of "Let's Go Hokies" emanated from the Providence band with 13:49 left and the Friars holding a 24-point edge. That's cruel. And funny. (BC football lost 30-16 to the Hokies in the ACC Title game earlier today.)

. . . Great interior passing by the Friars, especially from the big men.

Posted by David Scott at 07:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- Our new goal with the score of this game at 57-38 in favor of the Friars, is to make the 8:45 ferry instead of having to wait for the 10:15 ferry. (Yes, we took a ferry to the game and yes, we like to brag about that.)

BC is simply abysmal tonight as they continue to be out-rebounded 18-8 and are being dominated in the pain 30-20 by the Friars.

Three Eagle players have three or more fouls (Roche, Blair and Sanders) and even flashy point guard Tyrese Rice looks very human against the high-energy Friars.

. . . Rakim Sanders picked up his third personal foul less than 30 seconds into the second half and Al Skinner had no choice but to leave the freshman in with a double-digit deficit.

. . . Tyler Roche for BC picked up his fourth personal foul in the 16:00-area

Posted by David Scott at 07:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- Providence dominated the boards (14-7) and the game and heads into the half with a 49-34 halftime lead over Boston College. Both Brian McKenzie and Jonathan Kale have nine points each for the Friars and Raji has 15 points, already a career-high, for BC.

Both teams shot the ball extremely well in the first half as PC was 18-of-28 for 64 percent and BC was 13-of-24 for 54 percent. BC made just 3-of-11 from beyond the arc, while PC connected on 5-of-10 from international waters.

. . . The BC rebounding situation got so bad that Al Skinner was forced to re-insert Shamari Spears with his his two fouls.

Posted by David Scott at 07:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- The Friars have extended to a 38-28 lead, aided by 4-of-8 shooting from three-point land and an impressive 11-4 rebounding edge over the undersized Eagles.

Corey Raji leads all scorers with 11 points for BC while PC has had eight different scorers so far.

Posted by David Scott at 06:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- Tyrese Rice hit a shot-clock buzzer beating 3-pointer from New Hampshire with under 8:00 to go to trim the Friar lead to 27-21, which is where we now stand with 7:10 left in the half.

. . . The Celtics dancers are back and have multiplied. We can't question how things like this happen, but we can thank the powers-that-be for such instances.

. . . Despite being a virtual home game for BC, the building is a LOT flatter than it was for the first game when UConn fans brought great energy to the game. Perhaps the Eagle fans are still crying in their beer over the football's loss to Va. Tech in the ACC title game?

But that should be no excuse as the building is definitely a pro-PC crowd. (Providence is only about an hour away.)

. . . Celtics President Rich Gotham just walked by the Posting Up perch and paused to say hello. He is the team's second president ever after red Auerbach. Talk about tough shoes to fill.

Posted by David Scott at 06:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- We got a bit hung up in the Gonzaga locker room with the talkative and quotable Jeremy Pargo and Micah Downs. Our apologies.

Providence is out to a 16-12 lead with 10:30 left in the half and BC has foul trouble from the get-go with both Shamari Spears and Rakim Sanders forced to the bench with two fouls each. Freshman Corey Raji has come off the BC bench to drop in six points and help the Eagles' cause.

Posted by David Scott at 06:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- Gonzaga took the floor for pre-game shooting at about 2:45, led by David Pendergraft who was the first Zag out of the locker room. The Zags are stretching and shooting at the East End of the floor closest to the Posting Up Perch.

. . . We're blessed enough to have a stats monitor to our right but at this point they have Boston College playing UConn, which would clearly be news to the Big East office.

. . . Gonzaga freshman Austin Daye from Irivine, California is the sone of ex-NBA player (and Celtic) Darren Daye, who played at UCLA. Papa Daye logged five years in the NBA, including parts of two season with the Celts (1986-'87 for 61 games and '87-'88 for 47 games. he wore No. 20 for the Celtics, a number now worn by UConn alum Ray Allen. The younger Daye is currently leading the Zags in scoring with 14.3 ppg and 4.9 rpg in a sixth man role.

Continue reading "Zags Take The Floor" »

Posted by David Scott at 03:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON -- A host of Hall of Famers are scheduled to be in the house today beyond the HOF coach Jim Calhoun. Also slated to be here are Walt Bellamy, Denny Crum, Wayne Embry, Marques Haynes, Bailey Howell, Meadowlark lemon, Nancy Lieberman, Calvin Murphy and CM Newton.

The Hall is also boasting that 28 NBA scouts will be in attaendance (inclduing Charlotte's Bernie Bickerstaff and Denver's Rex Chapman) as well as more than 125 members of the media from nearly 50 outlets. The first game is teleised by ESPN with the second sliding over to ESPN Classic. Sean McDonough, Bill Raftery and Jay Bilas have the call on both games. McDonough is tanned and still aglow over his trip to Hawaii for both the Maui Invitational and a Hawaii football game. He told us Hawaii is a legit BCS bowl team with a defense to finally match its offense and then headed into the Will McDonough press room, names in honor of his late father, a Boston legend.

Continue reading "Hall of Famers In Da House" »

Posted by David Scott at 02:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)